GNV's 2024 CHRISTMAS PARADE

LAST SEEN HEADING EAST ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE

         The City of Gainesville staged its second annual Christmas parade last Saturday. I saw it from the staging area, where everybody lines up an hour before it begins. I was there to recruit groups worthy to be in our Flying Parade which marches in three weeks.  

       I witnessed a well-produced holiday event that's pretty much like every other city's Christmas parades.  It consisted mostly of people waving from vehicles. A few groups were on foot and an incredible group of Black cowboys rode lively horses.

       Being a parade guy, I'm always intrigued by how local events are financed.  The city makes it very difficult to see budgets for events they produce.

     This parade probably cost over $100,000 to produce.  The city raised that much getting corporate sponsors to donate large chucks of money. Yesterday's Mainstreet News pointed out that some of the donors gave over $10,000 (Cox Communications and UF Health) and others gave less (like the city's housing authority, The Children's Trust, and our airport).

     None of their sponsors contribute to The Pig (I've tried) perhaps because we surprise people with our dancing dinosaurs, peace protests, and book-banning babes.  Whatever. We get donations from pig parade fans. The city and county also give us grants as we bring bring 2000 people downtown to spend $ and to have a good time.

     I took a few photos on my Saturday scouting trip.

The after-school care group, "The Bulls". I invited them to march with us on December 28th.

The delightful Freak Island Clown Band who have already signed up to march again in "The Pig"

This percussion group was great. Unfortunately they won't be around three weeks from now

I invited these Colombian dancers but as UF students, they return to Miami for Xmas.

This parade was filled with vehicles representing its commercial sponsors. I offered to let Morgan & Morgan to join the Flying Pig if they also donated $5000 and added to their sign, "Let us turn your crash into cash!".  They said they'd think about it.

Many of the groups were kids or seniors waving from decorated trailers or truck beds. They had a great time.

The parade's grand marshal, Shaq O'Neil, waved from the bow of this huge boat.

Vivian Filer was an honored guest.  She will be honored again as the grand marshal of our Dec. 28th parade.

 

 What would this procession be without Miss Gaineville and Miss Ocala?  

I'm trying to find someone to be America's new queen, "Miss  Information", in the piggish parade.  Know anyone up for that?  I've got a spare tiara.

Patrick and his family will ride their bike boat in The Pig representing the Urban Yacht Club.

     Again, it was a long parade, mostly vehicles, rolling along quickly. The last part consisted of cool old cars, a city bus, a garbage truck, a GRU repair truck, and a huge fire truck containing Santa Claus. Some kids like big trucks, I guess.

   They are not allowed in the porcine procession. We are non-commercial and people-powered.

     Again, it was a very good holiday parade but one very different from the ones I've produced (the King Mango Strut and the one about pigs that fly).  I'm glad we have one of each to enjoy this month.

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